[sustran] FW: CAR BUSTERS MONTHLY E-BULLETIN #39

[Paul Barter]

From: "Car Busters" <carbusters at ecn.cz>
Date: Mon, 7 Oct 2002 19:11:28 +0200
Subject: CAR BUSTERS MONTHLY E-BULLETIN #39

Did you think this bulletin was free?!... Well it is, at least 
grudgingly. But please remember that Car Busters is supported by 
memberships and donations. Your contribution is always welcome. See 
<http://www.carbusters.org/subscribe/> for details.

_________________________

     CAR BUSTERS BULLETIN >>>
     _____________________________

Edition no. 39 - October 2002 - English version
...............................................
Car Busters, Kratka 26, 10000 Prague 10, Czech Rep.
tel: +(420) 274-810-849 - fax: +(420) 274-816-727 <carbusters at ecn.cz> -
<http://www.carbusters.org>

This month's bulletin is brought to you by Ivana Jakubkova and our 
new staffer from Bordeaux, Aude Vidal. Bienvenue, Aude!

To avoid various unexplainable formatting problems, view our bulletin 
at <http://www.carbusters.org/subscribe/ebulind.htm>.


Thought for the month:
"Does one bum [butt] need four wheels?"
- slogan on a banner displayed to motorists by two guys on the 
Magistrala Motorway, Prague, September 25


CONTENTS

World News
- SAN FRANCISCO CRITICAL MASS IS TEN YEARS OLD
- PRO-BIKE/PRO-WALK CONFERENCE WRAP-UP
- DON'T JUMP ON THE MAGLEV TRAIN BANDWAGGON

Announcements
- THIRD "BREAK THE GRIDLOCK" CONFERENCE 
- CALL TO ACTION AT BIRMINGHAM MOTOR SHOW
- SUPPORT POLISH ANTI-ROAD ACTIVITIES
- JOB OPENING: COMMUNICATIONS DIRECTOR, ITDP 
- A NEW CAR-FREE NEIGHBOURHOOD IN THE USA?
- SEE WHAT YOU'RE BREATHING

Car Busters Announcements
- WORLDWIDE CONTACT DIRECTORY HAILED AS SUCCESS
- WORLD CAR-FREE DAYS: HOW WAS IT FOR YOU?
- A CALL OUT FOR CAR BUSTERS CORRESPONDENTS
- "HI, MY NAME'S JANE, AND I'M AN AUTOHOLIC"
- TRANSLATORS STILL WANTED

Things To Read
- BICYCLE RESEARCH REPORT
- TRANSPORTATION COSTS AND BENEFIT ANALYSIS

Disclaimer

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     WORLD NEWS >>
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SAN FRANCISCO CRITICAL MASS IS TEN YEARS OLD
[a round-up by Paul VanDeCarr]

Car traffic was jammed up worse than usual in San Francisco, 
California on September 25, thanks to a profusion of bicycle traffic. 
The tenth anniversary of Critical Mass drew an estimated 3,000 to 
5,000 riders, which put the ride among the biggest Critical Masses in 
the city's history.
   Police reports put the ride at 40 blocks long at one point. As 
smaller groups splintered off, the overall ride got shorter, but the 
variety of different routes people took (about three or four major 
splinter rides at most) made for more traffic chaos and rider 
excitement! As splinter rides rejoined each other at a given 
intersection, and perhaps reformed and splintered off again, riders 
in each group cheered each other, as if they were long-lost siblings 
rejoining each other after a battle!
   Attitudes of and about the riders varied sharply with some riders 
seeing drivers as potential allies and others seeing cars as war-
causing, stress-producing pollution monsters that have to be stopped. 
Car drivers were perhaps more unified in their views than were 
bicyclists, namely that Critical Mass is a pain in the ass - 
specifically, the one they're sitting on while waiting for thousands 
of bicyclists to pass by! One driver I saw got out of his car and 
started screaming at riders "You're all assholes! I just want to get 
home for dinner! Assholes!" Other drivers seemed to take it in 
stride, sitting on the hoods (bonnets) of their cars and watching the 
parade pass by.
   Earlier in the day was the city's first official "Car-Free Day," 
in which a portion of a downtown street was closed to traffic for the 
afternoon, making way for bicycle activities, mime artists, and other 
eco-friendly fun. The day wasn't entirely car-free, as it turned out; 
the mayor showed up in an electric car, amending it to be 
"alternative transportation day."


PRO-BIKE/PRO-WALK CONFERENCE WRAP-UP
[submitted by Andy Singer, St. Paul, Minnesota, USA]

As one who attended the 12th International ProBike/ProWalk conference 
(September 3-6) here in St. Paul, I can say it was very inspiring. 
Every two years, over 300 pedestrian and cycling advocates, traffic 
engineers, cycling industry representatives and health department 
professionals get together to figure out how best to get people out 
of their cars. There are workshops on every subject imaginable: 
creating better connections between bicycles and public transit; 
effective statewide advocacy; using the media; where to get funding 
for pedestrian and cycling projects; bike safety; etc.
   One major focus was on the "Safe Routes to Schools" programme and 
the health issues surrounding it. The US Health Department and Center 
for Disease Control (CDC) report a huge increase in obesity among 
Americans, particularly children, with corresponding increases in 
childhood diabetes. The cost of these kids for the US health care 
system (as they become adults) will be enormous. In addition to 
increased use of television, video games and sedentary lifestyles, 
researchers blame cars. In the 1970s, 75 percent of kids got to 
school by foot or bicycle. Now the number is down to less than 15 
percent!
   So the CDC has made some money available to US communities to 
start "Safe Routes to Schools" programs to encourage kids to walk or 
ride bikes to school. What form these programmes will take is hard to 
say, but cycling and pedestrian advocates see this as a possible 
springboard for larger biking and walking campaigns. One statistic 
from these discussions that stuck in my head was that "on average, 
the typical American walks just 300 yards [metres] per day!"
   Another issue widely discussed was the reauthorization of the (US) 
Transportation Efficiency Act, dubbed "TEA-3." This law allows for as 
much as a third of federal gas tax revenues (US$50 billion) to be 
used for non-automotive purposes. Many at the conference have 
observed that highway departments are increasingly misusing TEA money 
for off-ramps and other highway projects and calling them 
"pedestrian" or "safety" improvements. So advocates are urging a 
tightening of the rules and regulations for how TEA-3 money can be 
spent. Ellen Vanderslice, president of America Walks, dubbed these 
proposed reforms "GREEN TEA." The Surface Transportation Policy 
Project has more information on TEA-3 on its website: 
<http://www.transact.org>.
   The next conference will be held in two years in Victoria, British 
Columbia, Canada. Check it out!: <http://www.bikewalk.org>.


DON'T JUMP ON THE MAGLEV TRAIN BANDWAGGON
[submitted by Evert Hassink, Friends of the Earth/Milieudefensie 
Groningen, The Netherlands]

Sorry, last month we stopped campaigning on cars because our 
government has found a means of transport that might beat the car in 
stupidity. It is called the Magnetic Levitation (maglev) train, which 
is sold by Siemens under the name Transrapid.
   The Dutch government reserved EUR 2.7 billion and regional 
authorities are looking for another EUR 1.1 billion for buying a line 
between Amsterdam (Schipol Airport) and the cute little town of 
Groningen where we live. The project is sold as a sound way of 
investing in the regional economy, and an environmentally friendly 
way of public transport.
   But the energy consumption of maglev transport per passenger is 
comparable to that of a luxury car and the price will be double that 
of a normal railway ticket. The travelling time will be halved, which 
will make the train useful for the "time is money" guys.
   The major problem with this fast train is that it creates its own 
market [induces demand]. Models show that those who will use this 
train would not travel if there was no fast transport. Many people 
will move to towns farther away from their work. The train causes 
dispersal of social and economical networks. This means not only 
extra train transport, but also extra car transport.
   You can find out more (mostly in Dutch) at 
<http://www.milieudefensie.nl/verkeer/>.

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     ANNOUNCEMENTS >>
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THIRD "BREAK THE GRIDLOCK" CONFERENCE

Saturday, October 12 in Chicago: This is your opportunity to meet the 
leaders in Chicago's burgeoning activist community and contribute to 
making your city a model for a sane and sensible (and car-less) 
transportation policy. More info at 
<http://www.breakthegridlock.org>.


CALL TO ACTION AT BIRMINGHAM MOTOR SHOW
[submitted by Karen Leach, Birmingham, UK]

On October 23, world leaders gather in New Delhi to talk about 
climate change. On the same day in Birmingham, with no sense of 
irony, a motor show will celebrate car culture with its profligate 
waste of fossil fuels. There, Friends of the Earth (FOE) Birmingham 
will organise an action against car culture and hypermobility - and 
for walking, cycling and public transport. 
   To take part in the action, contact Birmingham FOE at 
<beep at dial.pipex.com>. Accommodation available if required. More info at
<http://www.greenbirmingham.com/footwork>.


SUPPORT POLISH ANTI-ROAD ACTIVITIES! 
[submitted by Frank van Schaik, A SEED Europe]

In August, the Polish parliament began to work on bills that will 
make it easier to build motorways and freeways in the country. A 
number of Polish groups have been circulating a petition to urge the 
Parliament to drop its intention to build more motorways. This 
petition will be presented to the speaker of the Polish Parliament on 
the occasion of a demo on October 10 in Warsaw.
   Polish activists hope to also apply pressure at the European 
level, so they request Western European groups and individuals to 
sign their petition and attend the demo.
   For support and information: Piotr Bielski 
<pbielski at ore.most.org.pl>.


JOB OPENING: COMMUNICATIONS DIRECTOR, ITDP
[submitted by Paul Steely White, ITDP, <mobility at igc.org>]

The Institute for Transportation and Development Policy's New York 
office seeks a Communications Director to manage ITDP media, 
including Sustainable Transport Magazine (annual), Sustainable 
Transport e-Update (quarterly), and in cooperation with ITDP's 
webmaster, ITDP.org. The Communications Director will also 
collaborate with other ITDP staff to devise and circulate regular 
press releases, manage the annual year-end fundraising letter, and 
perform other communications and fundraising tasks as needed. 
Application deadline: November 1. See <www.itdp.org> for the full job 
announcement.


A NEW CAR-FREE NEIGHBOURHOOD IN THE USA?
[submitted by Jeffrey Rosenblum]

Between Cambridge, Charlestown and Somerville, Massachusetts lies an 
area known as North Point. For over a century, it has been the site 
of railyards and other industrial uses. Now, this area, the largest 
remaining undeveloped parcel in Cambridge, is proposed for complete 
redevelopment. Being advised by Joel Crawford, author of the book 
"Carfree Cities," a group of residents propose North Point to become 
a car-free neighborhood. For more info or to get involved, check out 
<http://www.swiss.ai.mit.edu/~rauch/northpoint/>.


SEE WHAT YOU'RE BREATHING
[submitted by Margot Brinn]

Have you heard of <http://www.scorecard.org>? It ranks counties in 
the USA by pollution level and provides analysis of sources of the 
pollution. For example, our county, Tompkins, is in the top 40 
percent of polluted counties and most of it comes from mobile 
sources. How are your county's lungs doing?

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     CAR BUSTERS STUFF >>
     ________________________________


WORLDWIDE CONTACT DIRECTORY HAILED AS SUCCESS
[submitted by Richard Lane]

The international community has been unreserved in its praise for the 
Car Busters Worldwide Contacts Directory, up and active on the web 
and currently hovering at 253 entries. Leading thinkers and world 
leaders have rushed to heap praise upon the tool, and so far the 
banana offered as a prize for breaking it remains unclaimed. Register 
your group today, and see it there a few days later. Despite glowing 
tributes from Nelson Mandela, the Dali Lama, and Gandalf out of Lord 
Of The Rings, we're still interested in your opinions about it. Let 
us know. This remarkable piece of work is at 
<http://www.carbusters.org/directory/>.


WORLD CAR-FREE DAYS: HOW WAS IT FOR YOU?
[also submitted by Richard Lane]

We hope you've got your breath back after this year's worldwide call 
to action. So far we've been told about events which took place in 40 
cities on four continents. It's all up there on 
<http://www.carbusters.org/carfreeday/events.htm>. Action reports are 
beginning to slowly trickle in. Please, if you've been involved in a 
World Car-Free Days action, let us know how it went! And if you saw 
any news about it appearing in the media, we'd like to know about 
that to. We'll have a run-down of the world's activities in our next 
magazine (no. 16), and on our website before too long.


A CALL OUT FOR CAR BUSTERS CORRESPONDENTS
[submitted by Randy Ghent]

Do you have your finger on the pulse of transport(ation) news and 
action in your country or region? Do you have skills in 
writing/journalism, research, art/photography, communication, or at 
least newspaper clipping? If so, you may be exactly the sort of 
person we're looking for...
   We at Car Busters Central want to involve people in the wider 
movement (that means you) more directly in our projects, and a 
network of formal correspondents is among the ways this will happen. 
Correspondents will be given clear guidelines - in addition to the 
writers' guidelines now at 
<www.carbusters.org/magazine/guidelines.htm> - on how to best be our 
eyes and ears around the world. They will contribute material for our 
monthly bulletin and especially our quarterly magazine, where they 
will be listed with impressive-sounding titles such as "The Honorable 
Royal Liechtenstein Correspondent."
   In addition to an official gold-plated car-busting mallet and the 
glory of it all, we will offer correspondents regular contact and 
journalistic feedback. Correspondents should, at the minimum, 
contribute useful material at least once every three months.
   Anyone interested in becoming a correspondent should contact 
<carbusters at ecn.cz>. Act now and you may (or may not) receive a bonus 
set of seven stainless-steel Ginsu steak knives. This is a volunteer 
position, by the way.


"HI, MY NAME'S JANE, AND I'M AN AUTOHOLIC"
[also submitted by Randy Ghent]

We've got grand ideas for starting a light-hearted, good-humoured 
recovery programme for car addicts - and we want to recruit all of 
you car-free and car-lite former car addicts to join us.
   Autoholics Anonymous will consist of two parts: a secular 12-step 
recovery programme and an information clearinghouse providing 
resources on how to become car-free or reducing one's car use (plus 
how to encourage broader change at the community level).
   Autoholics.org, which we've already purchased, would be the 
virtual headquarters of this network, and it could eventually be 
linked to independent national Autoholics Anonymous websites that 
would provide country-specific information. We envision "up-close-and-
personal" profiles of former car addicts (with their names and 
photos), explaining how they kicked the habit or "began the lifelong 
recovery process." We imagine an on-line forum where people can get 
advice and support from those who are already car-free. Some of it is 
just providing things our existing Resource Centre should provide, 
but putting it in a different "package" - one with more humour and 
less perception of being oriented towards confrontation.
   So we're looking for former car addicts and recovering car addicts 
- basically anyone who used to drive but has cut way back or "gone 
cold turkey" - to step forward and tell us your story at 
<carbusters at ecn.cz>. Then we need national or regional AA contact 
people. Finally, and perhaps most importantly, we need people willing 
to contribute time and energy to building the web site and the 
recovery programme. So now's your chance. It all depends on you!


TRANSLATORS STILL WANTED
[submitted by Petr Kurfuerst]

We are still looking for volunteers that can help us make our website 
as open to people as possible. We have created a short summary about 
Car Busters which is currently being translated into as many 
languages as possible. This brief basic info will be put onto the 
website and will require no updating. It is about 2,700 words 
altogether. We already have French, German, Italian, Spanish, Czech 
and Esperanto under control. We are still looking for translators 
into Russian, Mandarin Chinese, Arabic, Hindi, Polish, Dutch and 
Romanian. So if you want to help us with this, please let us know and 
we'll send you a short Word file with the text for translation. The 
above are priority languages, but if you feel like doing any other, 
let us know. Deadline: ideally October 20, but a little later is 
still okay. Thanks.

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     THINGS TO READ >>
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BICYCLE RESEARCH REPORT

The European Cyclists' Federation produces a month publication called 
Bicycle Research Report. In the latest issue (September), you can 
find a report on "Research and experimentation on the strategies 
adopted by urban cyclists." Check out <http://www.ecf.com>.


TRANSPORTATION COSTS AND BENEFIT ANALYSIS

The Victoria Transport Policy Institute has posted an on-line edition 
of 
"Transportation Cost And Benefit Analysis: Techniques, Estimates and 
Implications." It's a comprehensive study of transportation cost-
benefit 
analysis and a guidebook for applying this information in planning 
and policy. 
To be found at <http://www.vtpi.org/tca>.

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     DISCLAIMER >>
     __________________

Anyone happen to know of a shelter for a few hundred toads named 
Fluffy? 
Please, our office is heaving with them! We can't hear a word in here 
because 
of all the noise they make, can't move without bumping into a dozen 
and, most importantly, we can't see what we're typing through all the 
schmutz on our screens...

[end]
____________________________________________

CAR BUSTERS
Kratka 26, 100 00 Praha 10, Czech Republic
tel: +(420) 2-7481-0849 - fax: +(420) 2-7481-6727 <carbusters at ecn.cz> -
<http://www.carbusters.org> ____________________________________________

Car Busters Worldwide Contact Directory
Register your group on-line now: <http://www.carbusters.org/directory>